What about adding some lots where u get two hrs of free parking and anything longer u would have to start paying by the hour? They would have to be the kind of lots where you would get some kind of ticket and either there is a validating machine or just an operator working the booth. This system would allow only people who shop/dine downtown to use this lot as it would not be an option for people just simply working

Free parking is always a good idea but for a limited amount of time. There will be people trying to take advantage and take up a parking space all day. Maybe for people working or going to school downtown they could display something on their windshield indicating that and that can be monitored and proven . Shoppers or people with appointments could be monitored as well for maybe a 4 or 5 hour limit. But they could have parking spots just for the people shopping or with appointments different from the people going to school or working. Free parking is always beneficial to the people and would give them reason to come back. It works for the Malls.

Maybe not FREE parking, but most lots (cough, cough, Impark, cough) charge more than ten dollars for parking! Why does the price need to be so high?

But the mindset exists and those who'd rather shop at malls so they don't have to pay do more than effect their own lives but the vitality of downtown.

I don't have a problem with metered parking. I've paid for it all of my life.

The mindset that parking should be free is something I just can't grasp. Part of owning a vehicle is paying to park it, so if you want to limit yourself to shopping in sterile malls, it's your life.

There would definately need to be an expansion of places people could park in addition to making it free to help avoid that problem. Those living downtown are parking somewhere anyway!

Free parking downtown? Great, so anyone that lives down there can just park there for free while someone that needs to go downtown for whatever reason can't find parking? Like it or not, there's no free parking (or very limited) down there for a reason.

Free Parking? Terrible idea. Parking is a non issue. What does free parking give anyone? I can park free at Masonville, White Oaks and everywhere else. Downtown needs unique attractions that attract people.

When we go to event at the JLC we park for free at work on Grey St. and have to walk the 20 minutes up. Also, there are used book stores downtown that I love going to but because of the parking don't go as often as I'd like (instead of monthly I go only 2 to 3 times a year and only to one of the 4 I like instead) Same goes with the comic book shop and Comander Salamander! Galleria (City Plaza) is more affordable but then I'm on a time limit if I don't want to be paying after my 2 hours of free parking) As well, it is true that there are some of us out there who simply cannot afford the extra parking fees. We budgetted for our shopping but not for parking.

I agree. No one wants to go downtown because paying for parking is ridiculous. Why would I shop downtown when I can park for free at the malls?

The solution for the public to understand this complicate issue is this: Bylaw to require Malls to pay $x.xx per space in annual fee's and thus offset this with exit parking fee's to customers. Levels the playing field vs downtown area, can reduce the costs on meters charged if you make malls pay for their parking lots AND creates an awareness of the high cost to the public infrastructure i.e. sewers/roads, that these huge lots cost the tax payer. What you think these large parking lots are free? Duh- they come with a large public cost via tax payers to maintain the systems that allow them to exist.

By all means. We pay enough in taxes on our purchases and at the pumps......

No one seems to listen here.......................
I won't pay meters or private parking to shop downtown when Malls and plazas are free. Visitors get ripped off by parking tickets and towing charges. Stop it. NOW !!!

I agree Nathan. If you want people to stop and shop, you have to be able to park. Especially if you are a person with a disability that can't get there as a pedestrian, or have children and that makes it hard to walk very far. Free parking means we can stop and enjoy. It would be wonderful even if it were just in certain places where we need more traffic to the stores.

I disagree. There is lots of affordable parking downtown...So many empty lots with graffiti and dark corners. We need less car, more pedestrian! (and I drive to the downtown core everyday!)